Chapter 98: My Dear Count


    As twilight faded into darkness, the Arcane Hall grew dim.


    This mock battle, which had begun as a joke, continued well into the night.


    The number of defeated students grew, while the number of those remaining in the Arcane Hall dwindled.


    The professors and lecturers had long since departed, having their own duties to attend to.


    As for the students?


    Well, they had lost all interest in studying. Why bother with them anymore?


    The gifted students who had quickly grasped the reality of the situation gradually left, much like Erica, after watching the farce for a while.


    However, these students who hadn''t stepped up to challenge Viktor left a bitter taste in the mouths of those who had failed.


    If only these talented individuals had taken the stage...


    Surely, there would have been hope.


    Surely, they could have made Professor Viktor take a step.


    Their inaction had turned the fantasy of everyone passing into nothing but a bubble of illusion.


    When thest dozen or so students who had banded together were repelled from the stage by Viktor''s magic, there was no one left qualified to challenge him.


    Viktor dispelled his magic. The vines and flowers on the stage gradually withered, dissolving into a shower of green magical energy that returned to his coat.


    A faint green light flickered, and the magical arena fell silent as usual.


    The hall below was utterly quiet. In the vast Arcane Hall, only Viktor''s footsteps could be heard.


    Tap, tap, tap.


    Viktor walked to the entrance of the Arcane Hall, with the defeated students silently watching his back.


    Without moving his hands, the great doors slowly opened.


    Thest rays of the setting sun nted into the hall, illuminating Viktor and casting long shadows across the faces of the failed students, their expressions dim and lifeless.


    "It seems your abilities don''t match your confidence," Viktor said.


    "ss dismissed."


    The crow on his shoulder suddenly turned its head, its single eye seeming to mock the defeated students.


    As Viktor stepped out of the Arcane Hall, countless ck feathers fell from the sky, enveloping him.


    It was as if a murder of crows had descended, and a crow-like ck light shot towards the horizon.


    When the students came to their senses, Viktor had vanished.


    Only a single tail feather remained on the ground, like the final trick of a deceptive magician.


    The students remained silent, as if still trapped in a fantasy.


    The shadow of the entire Arcane Hall had been etched into their hearts.


    ...


    "Chief Professor Faces Thousands Alone, Doesn''t Budge an Inch Against Countless Students—"


    "He Deres: If Anyone Can Make Him Move, All Will Pass the Final Exam!"


    "Shocking—Three Things You Must Know About Viktor, Chief Professor of the Royal Magic Academy"


    The Second Prince flipped through the newspapers, a beautiful maid feeding him grapes by his side.


    He ate and read, asionallyughing at interesting parts of the reports.


    "Impressive, impressive. As expected of Councilor Kravina."


    "He''s certainly in the spotlight."


    Suddenly, the Second Prince put down the newspaper and smiled at the maid beside him.


    "You may go now. Oh, and don''t forget to leave the fruit."


    The maid bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Highness," ced a te of grapes on the table in front of the Second Prince, curtsied, and slowly withdrew.


    A blob of ink emerged from the Second Prince''s sleeve.


    The little toad quickly crawled onto the table, stretching out its long tongue to grab arge grape and swallow it.


    After eating, it slowly spoke:


    "When is this partner you mentioned finally going to arrive?"


    The Second Prince, not at all rushed, replied with a smile.


    "What''s the hurry?"


    "My dear elder brother is returning tomorrow. This grand gift prepared for him is not meant to appear just yet."


    The toad burped, looking at the Second Prince and sensing his intense emotions.


    "Tch."


    It, a mighty demon, reduced to eating grapes.


    How ironic.


    ...


    "From now on, remember to take this with you when you go out."


    In the study, Viktor called Henie to him and, with a flip of his hand, a small red crocodile appeared in his palm.


    Henie was surprised.


    "Isn''t... isn''t this Mr. Crocodile?"


    Mr. Crocodile, what an interesting name.


    The small crocodile was ced on the desk by Viktor, dozing off.


    As if sensing something, it raised its head, and upon seeing Viktor, its crocodile body trembled.


    "Big bro!"


    The crocodile seemed to try to stand up, saluting Viktor.


    Vega looked at Viktor, exasperated.


    How did you manage to train this once-ferocious demon into such a state?


    Viktor ignored Vega''s obvious look, merely tapping the desk lightly with his finger, saying calmly:


    "Didn''t you say you liked her scent?"


    "From today on, you''ll stay by her side to protect her, and your power will be at her disposal."


    "But don''t forget what I told you, control your anger."


    The tiny crocodile shuddered, hearing these words, and quickly nodded:


    "I understand, bro!"


    "From now on, I''ll treat her like royalty!"


    Regardless of whether it was living under someone else''s roof, Leighton was relieved in advance.


    Not having to continue following Viktor was definitely a relief for it.


    It had never imagined that it, a primal demon, would one day fear a human.


    Henie hadn''t quite processed it yet, looking a bit confused. She looked down to see the crocodile gazing at her pitifully.


    But she didn''t pay attention to the pitiful crocodile, instead pondering Viktor''s words.


    The professor is having it protect me...


    Is he worried about me?


    Henie was still thinking when she heard Viktor say:


    "Alright, you may go now."


    "Y-yes, Professor."


    Henie carefully ced the crocodile in her palm and turned to leave.


    After Henie left, Vega pped its wings and said in a grating voice:


    "Viktor, I never thought you''d be able to keep such a filthy thing around!"


    Its tone was full of disgust.


    After all, it had said before that as a noble god, even an evil god, it found such disgusting things repulsive.


    Viktor merely responded calmly:


    "You once made a contract with a disgusting toad, and even deceived it."


    "We''re not so different."


    As he spoke, Viktor tapped the desk, and a book appeared in his hand of its own ord.


    In the now quiet study, only the asional sound of turning pages could be heard.


    ...


    The sun showed its ruddy face, greeted by the morning glow.


    Today, the streets of the capital were extraordinarily lively.


    People gathered along the roads, gazing ahead, curiously observing the returning iron cavalry.


    The army marched in neat, orderly formations towards the inner city.


    Their full armor nked rhythmically, and their horses'' hooves struck the pavement in unison.


    At the front of the procession was a man in golden armor. A plume of silver horse hair protruded from his golden helmet, and his face beamed with smiles as he walked down the street, asionally nodding and waving to the surrounding citizens.


    Even the dogs by the roadside quieted down at this sight, tongues lolling and tails wagging, weing the returning heroes.


    Behind him, a massive open carriage rolled down the road.


    The enormous head of a magic dragony silently within, as if in a steel cage.


    Aubrey Sol.


    Today was the triumphant return of the Crown Prince, and the severed head of the magic dragon would be paraded through the streets for a day.


    People gazed at the giant dragon head, chattering excitedly:


    "That must be the head of the magic dragon. The Crown Prince is truly amazing!"


    "They say the Emperor also slew a magic dragon in his youth."


    "Thank the Emperor and the Crown Prince for keeping usmoners safe and worry-free."


    Apanied by colorful gs and cheers from the streets, the residents smiled and offered blessings and praise to the returning troops.


    After all, this was the head of a magic dragon.


    Dragons were powerful creatures that existed in mythology.


    Not only did they have lifespans of thousands of years, but they also possessed extremely powerful elemental control abilities.


    Legend had it that dragons were the guardians of nature.


    They were beings capable of destroying entire cities.


    Those who could y a magic dragon were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, achieving a level of greatness beyond the imagination of ordinary people.


    However, the festive mood had not spread throughout the entire capital.


    In the Kravina mansion, Lia sashayed into the training ground, finding Viktor.


    At that moment, Viktor was instructing Aurelianne.


    "Yes, that''s the posture."


    "Maintain that position."


    Aurelianne held a knight''s longsword in her hands, both arms suspended in the air, holding the sword in front of her.


    The longsword was very heavy, and Aurelianne''s face had turned red with effort.


    Beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks.


    Nearby, her guard Celia watched this scene with a pained heart. Thinking of how grueling her own training had been, she felt increasingly sorry for the princess.


    But this was the requirement of the princess''s teacher, and she had no right to interfere. She could only question Viktor:


    "Viktor, what are you doing?"


    "The princess is a mage, do you understand? A mage!"


    "You''re actually making the princess practice swordsmanship? Are you telling me that a mage needs to practice closebat? Or are you saying that you yourself are skilled with a sword?"


    Lia approached with furrowed brows, seeing this scene. She forgot what she had originally intended to say and just calmly remarked beside Celia:


    "He actually is skilled with a sword. No need for you to worry about it."


    "Uh..."


    A mage skilled in swordsmanship?


    Celia waspletely baffled.


    Aurelianne managed to hold on for a while longer before she had to lower the longsword, supporting herself with it as she panted heavily.


    Her stamina was stillcking.


    After resting for just a moment, Aurelianne continued:


    "Teacher, I can keep going."


    Viktor took the longsword from her hands and said calmly:


    "I know you can, but we''ll put the practice aside for now."


    "Early this morning, I sensed themotion outside. Tell me, what''s happening out there?"


    Lia spread her hands helplessly.


    "I thought our esteemed mage already knew."


    She straightened her posture and said rather seriously:


    "You should prepare. The Crown Prince has returned."


    "The prince is returning with his spoils of war, and all the nobles are expected to wee and congratte him."


    "You''re no exception, my dear Count."


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